Manticore Records

Manticore Records is a British record label associated with the progressive-rock group Emerson, Lake & Palmer, usually abbreviated as ELP. The label was launched in 1973 by Manticore, a production company owned by ELP’s members and their manager, Stewart Young. Its identity grew out of the group’s wider publishing and production activities: the name Manticore had already appeared in music-publishing credits connected with ELP’s 1972 album Trilogy, while the creature itself had been used in the artwork for Tarkus, ELP’s second album. In that artwork, the manticore is depicted as an adversary capable of damaging the title creature, giving the name a distinctive connection to the band’s visual mythology. The original label was created partly in response to ELP’s dissatisfaction with overseas licensing and distribution arrangements for earlier recordings. Manticore initially worked with Island Records for manufacturing and distribution, followed by arrangements involving Island and EMI. ELP subsequently explored RCA for interim distribution before selecting Warner-Elektra-Atlantic (WEA) for a manufacturing and distribution relationship. In the United Kingdom, releases were distributed through Atlantic Records, which was part of WEA. In the United States, Atlantic handled distribution from 1973 to 1975, after which Motown Records took over until the label ceased new-activity operations in 1977. Manticore’s roster extended beyond ELP and its individual members. The label was associated with progressive and art-rock artists including Banco del Mutuo Soccorso, Premiata Forneria Marconi, John Greaves, Pete Sinfield, Stray Dog, Keith Christmas, Little Richard, and the British band Hanson. It also issued or supported solo work by Keith Emerson and Greg Lake. The roster reflected the label’s focus on progressive rock, technically ambitious album music, and artists connected to the broader European and British rock scenes. One artist considered but not ultimately signed was Steve Swindells, whose first album, Messages, was released by RCA instead. Although Manticore stopped functioning as an active UK label for new releases after ELP signed with Atlantic in 1977, its recordings continued to circulate through catalogue sales and later reissues. Much of the original repertoire was subsequently reissued by other labels, meaning that the Manticore name has remained important both as an imprint and as a historical marker for ELP-related recordings. The label was relaunched in 2017 with authorization from the Greg Lake estate. The revival was described as fulfilling one of Lake’s final wishes to bring Manticore back. The first release of the new incarnation was Live in Piacenza, issued on 7 December 2017. This was followed by Moonchild by Annie Barbazza and Max Repetti, the last album Greg Lake produced before his death, and then John Greaves’s Life Size. The revived label therefore combines archival ELP and Greg Lake associations with new or contemporary releases rooted in progressive and experimental music. Manticore remains best understood as a specialist heritage and progressive-rock label rather than a large contemporary major-label operation.

Manticore Records emerged from the business activities surrounding Emerson, Lake & Palmer, one of the leading progressive-rock groups of the early 1970s. The name was first used in connection with ELP’s publishing activities, with Manticore appearing in credits associated with Trilogy, released in 1972. It also carried an important visual association with the group: the manticore had appeared in the artwork for Tarkus, where it was presented as one of the title creature’s adversaries and the only one able to damage it according to the sleeve narrative. In 1973, Manticore Records was launched by the Manticore production company. The production company was owned by ELP’s members and their manager, Stewart Young, and the record label gave the group greater control over its releases and related repertoire. The decision was influenced by dissatisfaction with earlier overseas licensing arrangements, particularly the handling of ELP’s previous records through Cotillion. Manticore initially used Island Records for manufacturing and distribution, with subsequent arrangements involving Island and EMI. ELP briefly considered RCA for interim distribution before moving to a manufacturing and distribution agreement with WEA. Atlantic Records, a WEA company, distributed Manticore releases in the United Kingdom. In the United States, Atlantic distributed the label from 1973 through 1975, after which Motown assumed American distribution. The label ceased its active operations for new releases in 1977, around the period when ELP signed with Atlantic. Manticore nevertheless remained relevant as a catalogue identity. Its recordings continued to be sold, licensed, and reissued, often through other labels rather than through an uninterrupted Manticore release program. The original label’s repertoire was centered on ELP and related projects but was not limited to the group. It included solo work by Keith Emerson and Greg Lake, as well as releases connected with artists such as Banco del Mutuo Soccorso, Premiata Forneria Marconi, John Greaves, Pete Sinfield, Stray Dog, Keith Christmas, Little Richard, and the British rock band Hanson. This roster placed Manticore within the international progressive-rock network of the 1970s. The label also considered Steve Swindells, although he was not signed; his debut album, Messages, appeared through RCA instead. After a long period without new activity, Manticore was relaunched in 2017 with authorization from the Greg Lake estate. The revival was presented as consistent with one of Lake’s final wishes. Live in Piacenza, released on 7 December 2017, inaugurated the new phase. Moonchild by Annie Barbazza and Max Repetti followed; it was the last album Greg Lake produced before his death. John Greaves’s Life Size was subsequently identified as the third release of the revived label. The modern Manticore identity therefore operates across two related dimensions. First, it preserves and represents the historical ELP and Greg Lake catalogue. Second, it provides an imprint for selected progressive, experimental, and art-rock projects. Its importance is primarily cultural and archival: the label is associated with artist-controlled progressive rock, album-oriented music, and a recognizable visual and historical mythology rather than with the scale of a contemporary multinational record company.

• 2017

  Label is relaunched

  [1]Manticore Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Manticore returned as an active label with authorization from the Greg Lake estate.

• 2017

  Live in Piacenza is released

  [1]Manticore Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Live in Piacenza was issued on 7 December 2017 as the first release of the revived Manticore label.

• 1977

  Original label activity ends

  [1]Manticore Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Manticore ceased active new-release operations after ELP moved to Atlantic, although its back catalogue remained commercially active.

• 1975

  Motown takes over United States distribution

  [1]Manticore Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Motown Records assumed United States distribution from Atlantic, continuing until the label shut down in 1977.

• 1973

  Manticore Records launches

  [1]Manticore Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  The label was launched by the Manticore production company, owned by ELP’s members and manager Stewart Young.

• 1973

  Atlantic begins United States distribution

  [1]Manticore Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Atlantic Records distributed Manticore releases in the United States during the label’s initial American operating period.

• 1972

  Manticore name appears in ELP publishing credits

  [1]Manticore Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  The Manticore name appeared in music-publishing credits associated with Emerson, Lake & Palmer’s album Trilogy, establishing the name before the record label was launched.

A specialist progressive-rock label built around the Emerson, Lake & Palmer heritage, its members’ solo work, archival catalogue, and selected contemporary or European art-rock releases.

• Progressive-rock albums and catalogue releases · 1973

  Emerson, Lake & Palmer catalogue

  The core of Manticore’s identity is its association with Emerson, Lake & Palmer and the group’s progressive-rock recordings. The label was created by the group’s surrounding production organization and served as a vehicle for ELP-related releases and catalogue activity. Later editions and reissues have often appeared through other labels, but the Manticore name remains closely connected with the group’s recorded legacy.

• Solo progressive-rock recordings · 1973

  Keith Emerson solo recordings

  Manticore’s original artist scope included solo work by Keith Emerson. These recordings extended the label’s relationship with ELP’s members beyond the group itself and reinforced its emphasis on instrumental virtuosity, ambitious arrangements, and progressive-rock album formats.

• Solo rock recordings · 1973

  Greg Lake solo recordings

  Greg Lake’s solo work formed another important part of the Manticore orbit. His later connection to the revived label was also central to its 2017 return, which was authorized by his estate and aligned with his reported wish to restore the imprint.

• Live album · 2017

  Live in Piacenza

  Live in Piacenza was the first release issued by the relaunched Manticore Records. Released on 7 December 2017, it established the revived imprint as a continuing outlet for progressive-rock and ELP-related material.

• Progressive-rock album · 2017

  Moonchild

  Moonchild, by Annie Barbazza and Max Repetti, was the second release of the revived Manticore label. It also carries a direct Greg Lake connection because it was the last album he produced before his death.

• Experimental and progressive-rock album

  Life Size

  Life Size by John Greaves was identified as the third release of the modern Manticore incarnation. Its association with Greaves reflects the label’s continuing interest in progressive, experimental, and art-rock musicians.

• 2017

  Revive Manticore as a heritage and progressive-rock imprintStrategy

  Background

  The label had been inactive for many years, although its recordings continued to circulate through catalogue sales and reissues.

  Action taken

  Manticore was relaunched with authorization from the Greg Lake estate, beginning with Live in Piacenza and following with releases by Annie Barbazza, Max Repetti, and John Greaves.

  Aftermath

  The revival restored Manticore as an active brand focused on ELP-related heritage and selected progressive or experimental releases.

  Source

• 1973

  Create an artist-controlled label for ELP-related releasesStrategy

  Background

  Emerson, Lake & Palmer were dissatisfied with aspects of the overseas licensing of their earlier recordings and sought greater control over production, publishing, and distribution.

  Action taken

  The Manticore production company launched Manticore Records and arranged external manufacturing and distribution partnerships rather than operating as a fully independent end-to-end distributor.

  Aftermath

  The label developed a recognizable progressive-rock roster, while distribution moved among Island, WEA/Atlantic, and Motown arrangements.

  Source

1. 1Manticore Recordsen.wikipedia.org